Venues: Best, Worst, Most Unusual You've Been To

Drjohnrock · 08-10-2024, 06:57 PM

In my case:

Best: Southgate House Revival, Newport, Kentucky

Newport is across the river from Cincinnati. The club was in a huge old mansion until early 2012, then moved a few blocks east to an old church (and "Revival" added to the name) later that year. There are three stages: the Sanctuary (the old church sanctuary, where most national level acts play), the Revival Room (former Sunday school room upstairs, where national acts with smaller followings and some local acts play), and the downstairs Lounge (mostly local acts, with the occasional naitonal act). I've seen a lot of great shows at both locations over the years. The best music club around, IMHO.

Worst: Bogart's, Cincinnati, Ohio

This sewer pit of a club used to have a stanglehold on national touring acts. Thankfully, the dump now has a lot of competition. It's located near the University Of Cincinnati in a bad area that's getting worse. The employees are total jerks and the restrooms make the infamous ones at the old CBGBs look like the Waldorf Astoria. I've boycotted the place for years and always say the only way I'll go back is if XTC reforms with the original lineup and plays there.

Most Unusual:

The Great Auditorium, Ocean Grove, New Jersey

Owned by an offshoot of the United Methodist Church, it was built either during the Civil War or in 1894 (the story varies). It's largely made of wood and looks like it will catch fire if you stare at it too long. The sect holds services there but rents the place out for secular concerts (which is how I saw the place). During the summer, members of the offshoot (derisively called "The Tent People" by locals) gather in a huge field across from the venue and pitch huge tents that look like not-so-small replicas of row houses. I was there during the summer and it was, uh, quite the experience.

All three I've mentioned are still in operation. But great venues I've been to that are no longer around are The Jockey Club (Newport, Kentucky--legendary punk club), The Renaissance (Cincinnati), Staches, Little Brothers, and the Ohio Center (all in Columbus, Ohio), and a lot more I can't think of right offhand.

08-10-2024, 06:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
Drjohnrock Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 568	Venues: Best, Worst, Most Unusual You've Been To In my case: Best: Southgate House Revival, Newport, Kentucky Newport is across the river from Cincinnati. The club was in a huge old mansion until early 2012, then moved a few blocks east to an old church (and "Revival" added to the name) later that year. There are three stages: the Sanctuary (the old church sanctuary, where most national level acts play), the Revival Room (former Sunday school room upstairs, where national acts with smaller followings and some local acts play), and the downstairs Lounge (mostly local acts, with the occasional naitonal act). I've seen a lot of great shows at both locations over the years. The best music club around, IMHO. Worst: Bogart's, Cincinnati, Ohio This sewer pit of a club used to have a stanglehold on national touring acts. Thankfully, the dump now has a lot of competition. It's located near the University Of Cincinnati in a bad area that's getting worse. The employees are total jerks and the restrooms make the infamous ones at the old CBGBs look like the Waldorf Astoria. I've boycotted the place for years and always say the only way I'll go back is if XTC reforms with the original lineup and plays there. Most Unusual: The Great Auditorium, Ocean Grove, New Jersey Owned by an offshoot of the United Methodist Church, it was built either during the Civil War or in 1894 (the story varies). It's largely made of wood and looks like it will catch fire if you stare at it too long. The sect holds services there but rents the place out for secular concerts (which is how I saw the place). During the summer, members of the offshoot (derisively called "The Tent People" by locals) gather in a huge field across from the venue and pitch huge tents that look like not-so-small replicas of row houses. I was there during the summer and it was, uh, quite the experience. All three I've mentioned are still in operation. But great venues I've been to that are no longer around are The Jockey Club (Newport, Kentucky--legendary punk club), The Renaissance (Cincinnati), Staches, Little Brothers, and the Ohio Center (all in Columbus, Ohio), and a lot more I can't think of right offhand.